DABAWENYA Ybonne Ortega had to cut short her journey toward the Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Crown as she tested positive for the Covid-19 virus.

She confirmed this in a Facebook post on Sunday, September 19.

"It breaks my heart that I won’t be able to formally compete in the Miss Universe Philippines 2021...Unfortunately, this is not yet my time to compete in the final stretch of the MUPh pageant," she said.

She added that despite not being able to compete until the finals, she had a wonderful journey given the support she received from her family, team and fans.

She, however, assured her fans that she is open to the possibility of joining the pageant again in the future.

"Surely, it’s not the end of it. Instead, this is when my life will never be the same again. I will definitely come back better, stronger, and more ready to conquer the national stage," Ortega said. (SunStar Davao)